Two weeks ago, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Gill warned that his office could lose accreditation due to budget cuts and an increase in overdose deaths. On Thursday, Gill sent a letter to municipalities to tell them that any “unclaimed” dead person will now be their responsibility.

Gill said the bodies of unclaimed decedents will no longer be transported to the medical examiner’s office as a courtesy. Citing state statute, Gill said, “the proper authorities of the town in which the body is lying has the duty ‘to dispose’ of these remains.”

Gill suggested municipalities start working with their local police departments to “transport and store” the remains before his office starts implementing the policy on July 1.

“We estimate that this will involve fewer than 100 decedents per year for the entire state,” Gill wrote. “The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association may be able to provide you with a list of funeral homes willing to assist with transportation and storage.”

The office has a staff of 50, but Gill said an additional 11 vacancies that could not be filled because of a hiring freeze have compounded the office’s struggles. The office is due to be inspected for accreditation this summer.